Automatic sawing-machine.



E. B. SELLEW. AUTOMATIC SAWING MAOHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED MAR-18, 190B. 979, 1 O2, Patented Dec. 20, 1910.

4 8HEETSSHEET l.

VWTNESSES //v l EN 7-0/7 E. B. SELLEW. AUTOMATIC SAWING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR.1B, 1908.

Patented Dec. 20, 1910.

4 SHBETS-SHEET 3.

W/ TNESSES' qua uoPms Prrsxs 20., WASHINGTON. n. c.

BUECl-IARD SELLEW, GE PA'WTUCKET, RI-IODE ISLAND.

AUTOMATIC SAVJING-lVIACI-IINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 20, 191%..

Application filed March 18, 1908. Serial No. 421,866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST BURCHARD SnLLnw, of Pawtucket, in the county of Providence and State of l-thode lsland,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Sawing-Vlachines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for cutting off sections from metal bars.

It has for its primary object to make a completely automatic machine of this character which, without attention on the part of the operator, will feed forward the work after each section has been cut off, and repeat the cutting operation as long as any stock remains.

Another object is to provide an improved slow-speed mechanism for feeding the cutter into the work and so constructing such mechanism that it may return the cutter to starting position at a greatly increased speed.

Other objects are to provide automatic reversing mechanism which will effectually in all cases return the cutter to starting position and throw in the slow-speed feed for a new out, to provide means whereby the work is fed by gravity after each out has been completed, and to provide an automaticallyoperating clamp to secure the work preliminary to the out being started, and to release it in order to permit further feeding immediately upon completion of the cutting off. In the accompanying drawings there is illustrated a machine embodying the essential features of my invention.

In said drawings,Figure 1 represents a side elevation of one such machine. Fig. 2 represents a front elevation as seen from the right of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a vertical central section on line 33 of Figs. and 5. Fig. a represents a cross-section on line l l of Figs. 1 and 3. Fig. 5 represents a horizontal section and plan view of the parts below the line 55 of Figs. 1 and 3. Fig. 6 represents a section of the tool-feeding mechanism taken on line G6 of Fig. 7 represents an elevation of an annular saw-holder. Fig. 8 represents a sectional view of the same on line S S of Fig. 'f. Fig. 9 represents an elevation of a form of circular 'saw used in connection with my invention. Fig. 10 represents an elevation of the work clamp. Fig. 11 represents a sectional elevation of a part of the mechanism by which the reversal of the tool drive and return of the tool to starting position is efiected. Fig. 12 represents a perspective view of a section cut by my machine from the work.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the figures.

The machine consists of a columnar casing 1 supported by its base 2 and having a passage 3 through it from front to rear to admit the work l. The latter is a cylindrical or prismatic bar usually of metal, and of approximately uniform diameter or thick ness throughout. It may be of any shape in cross section, whether circular, elliptical or polygonal. That portion of the bar which is contained within the column of the machine is supported by an anti-friction roll 5, which is preferably arranged on a roller bearing surrounding a stud 6, while the outer end is clamped in a traveling holder 7, the latter being suspended from the carriage 8 provided with trolley wheels 9 which rest on the flanges of an I-beam 10. A bracket 11 is adj ustably fixed on the I-beam in front of the machine, and has an adjustable stop 12 against which the end of the bar abuts when in position to be operated on. As the drawings show the machine net after the conclusion of one cut, the forward end of the bar is shown as being restrained by the cutter 20, the section which was pre viously in contact with the stop having been severed and removed. Upon return of the cutter to starting position, the work is automatically fed forward into posi tion for a new cut, by gravity acting upon a weight 13 (see Fig. This weight is suspended by a cord 14 from a drum 15 about which the cord is wound, this drum being on the shaft 16 of a second drum 17 within the frame of the machine about which a rope 18 which is attached to the carriage 8 is wound.

The cutting tool consists preferably of a circular saw 20 shown in detail in Fig. 9. This saw is made from a disk having a central aperture 21 around the rim or boundary of which are formed the cutting teeth. It is secured in an annular holder 22 which is rotatably held in a slide 23, the latter engaging approximately vertical guides Qt on each side of the front of the machine frame. Gear teeth 25 are formed or secured to the saw holder 22 close to its periphery, which are engaged by a pinion 26.

The mechanism for rotating the saw and t ll trawling it into and through the worlc conslsts ot a shaft 21 which is driven by any suitable 11121118 such as the motor 28 shown in the drawing or a belt pulley or gearing. This shatt carries two loose pinions 29 and 3) respectively. the .fOi'lllGl' of which meshes directly with a gear 31 on a counter-shaft and the latter of which drives a similar gear 33 on the same shatt through an idler pinion 34-. A clutch 35 which is splined to the shaft and movable endwise thereon, connects each pinion alternately with the shaft, and so causes the counter-shaft 32 to be driven alternately in opposite directions. This latter shatt has keyed to it a bevel pinion 3t meshing with a complemental pinion formed on a hub or sleeve 38. Splined '2! within this hub and rotated by it is a shaft which .ttll'lCS the pinion 2G by which the saw 20 is rotated.

The same driving mechanisn'i serves both to rotate the sai and to feed it through the work. For etlecting this feed, I provide 1 screw +1.0 upon a sleeve which loosely surrounds the shaft 3%), this sleeve being secured to the smvcarrying slide 23 by a flange ll bolted to the lower part of the slide. hleshing with this screw is a nut LB which is keyed to an internal gear 41-3. Below this internal gear is an annulus L4: havn 7 mg two 0t internal teeth of dilterent pitches, which annulus is mounted so as to be free to turn, while below the latter are two independent internal gears l5 and Each of the latter has notches 41-7 in its external periphery which are adapted to be engaged by springywessed latches t8 and 49. These notches and latches are beveled so that when the gears are tu *ned in one direction, they will slip by the latches, while their rotation in the opposite direction is prevented. Either latch may be withd "awn and retained out of engagement with its respective gear so that the latter may be free to turn in either direction.

The upper part of the hub or sleeve 38 represented at 50, is eccentric and has rotatably journaled upon it the spur gears 51 and 5:3. The former of these is of sutlicient extent to mesh with both the internal gear to and the portion 4-4. ot the annulus t l,

while the second meshes with the toothed i part it" of this annulus and also with the gears and 'l: l. [is the hub is rotated, these gears 51 and 52- are carried revolubly about the axis of rotation. and -aused to roll upon the internal gears with which they are in mesh.

In order to eili'ect the feeding of f the work. one or the other it the gears ll-5 ll} 2 he aricd. In order to explain the action of this ditlcrential mechanism. the several gears may be considered tor example as having the following tooth values :Gear P -72 teeth; gear at '73 teeth; gear a l-"-63 teeth; gear il?) teeth; gear %lb-(ll. teeth. Supposing now that the as shown is held stationary. One revolution of the hub 38 will then cause the annulus l l. to turn through the space of one of its (33 teeth, that is, through 1/(33 oil a revolution. fit the same time the gear section ll restraining the free movement of gear 51, has caused the gear -.lto turn in the opposite direction through the space of one of its teeth, or 1/72 of a revolution The annulus 44': having been given, however, a slight movement in opposition to that ol the gear 4?, the latter in s a resultant motion equal to the difference between 1/63 and 1/72 of a revolution, so that the nut is retated only once in each 501-. revolutions of the hub 39 and drive pinion 26. in case a more rapid feed desired, the gear 45 released and 46 held stationar With this arrangement. the annulus l-l: is turned through 2/63 of a revolution. lt is to be understood of course that the values of the gears are not necessarily the same as above given, but that these n ay be of any desired amount to obtain the required rate of feeding.

In order to produce a quick return of the cutter to starting position tlilittl. the end of each cut. I provide means by which the teed nut may be turned reversely at the same 'ate of speed as the drive shaft. This means is a clutch that unites the gca 32 to the eecen tric hub, and is shown in s. As seen in this figure. there is a recess 53 in the hub. which receives a disk 5% bearing against the inner periphery of the gear A springpressed plunger tends to hold this dish near one end of the recess. At its middle portion the *ccess is deep enough to contain the disk without binding. and it is in this position when the mechanism is driven torward. but at its end the recess is shallmvcr and the disk is crowded into this shallow end when the mechanism reversed. 'lherehy the gear clutched to the hub and caused to turn with the latter at the same speed. thus turning the annulus td. and through the latter and the gear 50. rotating the nut also at the same speed. This action is permitted by the construction of the notches l-'7 and latch nfeviously described. which allows the gear to also to turn. The clutch is altogether automatic in its action. releasing the gear whenever the machine is driven forwardly, and clutching it to the hub as soon as the reverse commences.

An automatic mechanism is provided tor eti ecting the reversal at the end ot the cut and again throwing in the slow teed when the saw has been returned to starting position. This consists of a two-armed lever 5(3 pivoted on the outside of the machine frame and acting through a link 5? upon an arm it connected by means of a rock-shaft 59 with an interior arm (0 which is con nected to the clutch 35. Two dogs 61 and 62 which are adjustaole in position are carried by the cutter slide and act alternately upon the lever 56 to shift the clutch. hen the slide is towered to its fullest extent, the parts are in the po ion illustrated in the drawings, and the fe d drive coni'iected for reversal. and when tie slide arrives at its uppermost n the d g 2 swings the lever so to de arm and swing arm (to to the lef connecting the forward-drive pinion 29 with the shaft 2?.

The clutch-shifting mechanism is so constructed as to insure a thorough engagement of the clutch members whenever the movable member is shifted. For this purpose the link 57 is made variable in length, and provided with an elastic yielding element capable of absorbing energy when the cutter slide is moving, and of giving out that energy to shift the clutch after the slide has come to rest. The construction of this link is particularly shown in Fig. 11, from which it will be seen that the link is telescopic, having a sleeve 57 and a rod 57 Surrounding the rod and contained within the sleeve is the elastic element, which in this form of the invention is a spring 63 hearing at its ends against movable abutment sleeves G l and 65. The latter are adapted to bear both against external shoulders on the plunger and internal shoulders in the sleeve, so that whichever way the plunger may move within the sleeve will cause compression of the spring. A stop-pin G6 is screwed into the wall of the machine frame and is en gaged by a pin (3? on the link to prevent movement thereof. This pin 67 is slidable transversely of the link, being pressed out ward by a spring 68 and retractable by cam surfaces 69 and "(O on the plunger 57 It will be understood that when the tool slide is rising. the pin (")7 is above the stop 66 and below the latter during the reverse movement of the slide. Consequently, the actuation of the clutch is prevented even after the lever 56 is engaged by one of the dogs 1 or (52. Therefore, the plunger 57" is moved either up or down, compressing the spring and storing up energy, until one of the cam surfaces retracts the pin 67. Then the spring re-acts and shifts the clutch. Enough movement of the plunger is permitted before the sleeve is allowed to move to secure travel of the clutch throughout its full eX- tent of motion, regardless of whether the cutter slide is in motion or stationary.

While the cutter is in operation the work is held against displacement by clamps 71 and 72, the former of which is fixed and the latter movable. The movable clamp is released whenever the saw is raised so to allow'the work to be automatically fed forward as soon as it is cleared by the aperture in the saw. The screw 73 serves to operate this movable clamp, and this screw in turn is driven by a bevel pinion 7% meshing with a pinion 75 secured to the screw. On the hub of pinion 74- is keyed a disk 76 having a frictional facing 77 which engages the adjacent face of a disk 78 which is loosely mounted on the shaft 79 to which the pinion 74 is keyed. This second disk has peripheral gear teeth meshing with the pinion 30 previously described as being on shaft 27 and serving to drive the cutter-operating mechanism. The disk 78 is thus alternately rotated in opposite directions, being driven directly by the pinion 30 when the cutter is returned, and intermediately by the pinion 29 through the gear train 31 33 34 and 30 during the forward feed movement. Grdinarily the disks 76 and 78 are out of contact so that the latter disk rotates idly, but when they are pressed together, the screw 73 is rotated first to release clamp 72 and later to force it against the work. The disks are pressed together by an arm 80 which bears against a sliding sleeve 81 and is secured to a rockshaft 82. The sleeve travels on the hub of disk 78 and presses against the latter in the direction necessaryto force it against disk 76. G11 the outside of the machine fran e an arm 83 is fastened to the rock-shaft 82 and connected to a rod 84. which passes through a guide in the frame to a position where its end can be engaged by a cam 85 carried by the tool slide. A spring 86 (Fig. 5) tends to hold the rod in this position and to maintain the disks in contact. The cam, however, is of such extent that it disengages the disks immediately after the tool carrier has begun its forward feed and the saw has commenced cutting. The disks are not engaged again until the slide has returned almost to its starting position. Then while the cutter drive is still acting reversely, the disks are connected and the clamp released from the bar. The latter is then fed forward the required distance, and as soon as the drive is again reversed and the cutter commences to feed forward, the clamp is forced against the work. This engagement of the work by the clamp takes place before the friction disks are disconnected, and the latter 2 e permitted to slip so as to avoid danger of breaking any of the parts. There is a stop 87 on the lower end of the clamp 72 which arrests its retractive movement before it becomes jammed against the end of the thread on screw 73 in case it should be retracted to that extent before the disks are disengaged. Provision for manually operating the clamp is made by extending the shaft 79 and forming itwith a squared end 88 on which a wrench or crank may be placed. Rotation of this" of course turns the pinion '74:, and thereby the screw. its soon as the clamp 72 has been released, the work rests on the roll 5 previously described. This roll is carried in a slide 89 which has teeth in the form of a rack on one side, which teeth are engaged by a pinion 90 on a shaft 91. The latter extends outside of the machine frame and has a squared end to which a wrench may be applied. It also carries a ratchet wheel 93 with which a pawl 9i cooperates to hold it and the roll. in any adjustment.

Oil may be fed to the work through a pipe 95 which discharges at the point wiere the tool enters the work. The chips are pre rented from falling upon the gear by a shield 96, ancare also kept from the screw 40 by a telescopic sleeve 9? which surrounds the upper end oil the screw and rests upon the nut d2.

1 have described the cutting operation as taking place while the saw (ltiGnClS, but it is to be understood that the forward teed may be made in any other direction, that here described beiig taken simply because with the manner of supporting the work, the cut section would hind upon the saw it the out were not made from the top.

.s'ts shown in Fig. 9, the saw consists of disk upon which the teetii are formed on it. inner periphery. The disk may be (it on, piece and the teeth formed directly in it, or the teeth may be of a different grade of steel separately ta iioned and secured by welding or otherwise to the body of the disk. I also find it convenient to make the 'eeth on the inside of a narrow ring of hard steel which is ti ted to the aperture of the saw disk and welded thereto.

The holder 22 in which the saw (:5; secured is a ring having two flanges 99 which are suliiciently separated to admit the saw disk between them. One of the flanges, as 99, is cut away at a number of points to provide the recesses 100, and the periphery of the saw disk is similarly cut away to provide recesses 101 alt with projections 102. 'lhese projeetioi capable of entering the recesses 10G oi: the flange and of then being turned into the space between the flanges to hold the saw. At one side of the holder are screws i0 3 ltht separated inst sutiiciently to embrace one o1 the projections 102. After the saw has been inserted between the flanges and turned so as to locate one ot the projections between these screws, the latter are turned home and serve to prevent rotation of the within the holder.

The hereinbetore described driving and feeding mechanisms may be also applied to driving a saw or other cutting tool having external peripheral or other teeth as well as a saw of the charm-tel.- described with internal cutting elements.

l claii iz- 1. A machine for sawing o'tt pieces from metal bars, comprising a work-nolder constructed to clamp the work in fixed position, a saw, a holder in which said saw is rotata bly mounted. and guided to travel in a path transverse to th axis of the saw, a tubular teed screw connected with said holder for giving feed movements thereto, a shaft contained rotatably within said screw and geared to said saw for rotating the same, and a screwand shaft-operating member surrounding the screw and keyed to the shaft, whereby a positive connection, insuring rotation of the saw whenever ti o holder is fed, is secured 2. A. machine for sawing oi'i' pieces from metal bars, comprising a worloholder constructed to clamp the work in fixed position, a saw, holder in which said saw is rotatabl. Y mounted and guided to travel in a path transverse to the axis of the saw, a tubular teed. st cw connected with said holder for giving teed movement thereto, a shaft contained rotatably within. said screw and geared to said saw for rotating the same, a nut surrounding said screw and held against axial movement, and. a driving sleeve connected to operate said nut and having a positive rotation-transmitting connection with said shaft.

8. An automatic sawing-oft machine, comprising a saw-holder, a saw carried thereby, mechanism for driving said saw, means for moving said saw-holder to feed the saw thron -h the work, an automatic reversing mechanism for returning the saw when a piece has been severed from the work, means constantly tending to feed the work forward, a clamp for gripping the work and holding it stationary while being operated upon by the saw, a screw for closing and opening said clamp, gearing for operating said screw, a clutch consisting of a member connected to said gearing and a compleinental member driven by said saw-feeding i'nechanism, and connections controlled by the position of said saw-holder for connecting and disconnecting the members of said clutch, and thereby causing the clamp to be released from and reengaged with the work atthe proper times.

4-. in a machine for automatically sawing oil sections oi? bars, the combination of a saw, a saw carrier, a single driving element, connections from said driving clementto said saw and saw carrier for imparting cutting and "feeding movements thereto respectively,

' means included in said connections for reversing the direction of feed of the sawcarrier and affecting the speed thereot, a work clamp, and a connection from said driving element to said work clamp for actuating the same automatically to release anl permit feeding of the work, and to again clamp the work.

5. A sawing-01f machine comprising a saw, a saw carrier mounted to t'avel transversely to the line of action of the saw, and feeding mechanism for giving a slow feed and a quick return movement to said carrier, said means consisting of interengaging screw and nut elements, one of which elements is secured to the carrier and the other of which is mounted to rotate and is held against axial movement, a rotating eccentric driving member, a planetary gear loosely mounted upon said member, means restraining said planetary gear from rotation with the driving member in the feed movement of the saw, a clutch carried by said driving member and arranged to grip and rotate said gear upon reversal of said driving member, and dilferential gearing between said planetary gear and that one of i the screw and nut elements which is mounted to rotate.

6. E1 saw machine comprising a tool holder mounted to travel, a saw carried rotatably thereby, a drive shaft connected to rotate said saw, a screw engaged with said holder, a nut meshing with said screw and having an internal gear, a second internal gear having a slightly difi'erent number of teeth, means for holding the latter stationary, a hub rotated by said drive shaft, and a planetary gear carried eccentrically and rotatably by said hub and meshing with said internal gears, whereby the nut is rotated at a small fraction of the speed of the hub.

T. A saw machine comprising a tool holder mounted to travel, a saw carried rotatably thereby, a drive shaft connected to rotate said saw, a screw engaged with said holder, a nut meshing with said screw and having an internal gear, a second internal gear having a sli htly different number of teeth, means for holding the latter stationary when the drive is in the direction necessary to feed the saw for cutting, a hub rotated by said drive shaft, a planetary gear arried eccentrically and rotatably by said hub and meshing with said internal gears, whereby the nut is rotated at a small fraction of the speed of the hub, and a clutch adapted to secure said planetary gear to the hub when the drive is in the opposite direction, whereb the gears and nut are all turned at the speed of the hub to elfect a quick return of the saw.

8. A saw machine comprising a tool holder mounted to travel, a saw carried rotatably thereby, a drive shaft connected to rotate said saw, a screw engaged with said a plurality of loosely mounted additional internal gears beside the same, means for holding one of them stationary, a hub rotated by said drive shaft, and a plurality of gears carried rotatably and revolubly by said hub, one of which meshes with the nut connected gear and the other with the stationary gear, while both engage the loose internal gear, whereby a speed of rotation is given to the nut which is the difference between two small fractions of that of the drive shaft.

9.111 a machine of the character described, tool driving and feeding means, a work clamp, a screw for closing and releasing said clamp, and connections operated by said means for rotating said screw alternately in opposite directions.

10. In a machine of the character described, tool driving and feeding means, a work clamp, and connections operated by said means for closing and releasing said clamp automatically, said connections in cluding a friction clutch which is adapted to slip when the clamp reaches the limits of its travel.

11. In a machine of the character de scribed, a tool carrier, tool driving and feeding means, a work clamp, and connections operated by said means for closing and releasing said clamp automatically, said connections including a friction clutch adapted to slip when the clamp reaches the limits of its travel, and means controlled by said carrier for rendering said clutch alternately operative and inoperative.

12.111 a machine of the character described. tool driving and feeding means, work-clamping members arranged to grip the end of the work beside the tool, connections operated by said means for auto matically moving one of said members toward and from the other to grip and release the work, a work feeder arranged to support the end of the work remote from the tool and movable toward the tool, and an adjustable anti-friction rest to support and permit feeding of the work when released from said clamping members.

13.1n a machine of the character de scribed, a reciprocating tool holder, mechanism for feeding the same, a reversible drive for actuating said mechanism alternately in opposite directions, a shiftable clutch for effecting reversal of the drive, a clutch shifter operated by movements of said tool holder, and connected with said clutch; said shifter including two relatively movable members and an elastic connection between them; a stationary stop, and a movable stop carried by one of said members and adapted to engage said stationary stop and arrest the holder, a nut meshing with said screw and E member by which it is carried while the having an internal gear connected with it, t other member 1s moved against the resistance of said elastic connection, the latter member having provisions for displacing said moiable stop and. permitting it to pass said stationary stop.

1-1. In a machine of the character described, a reciprocating tool holder, mecha nism for feeding the same, a reversible drive for actuating said mechanism alternately in opposite directions, a shittable clutch for effecting reversal of the drive, a clutch shifter including an extensible and contractible link consisting of two telescoping members and an interposed spring, one of which members is operated by movements of said tool holder and. the other of which members is (omieeted With said clutch, a pin carried by the second member movable transversely of the path of such member, a stationary stop by which. said pin is arrested, and cam means on the first of said members for releasing said pin and permitting clutchshiitting movement of the second member.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

ERNEST BURCHARD SELLElV. lVitnesses r MITCHELL ADAMS, ELVERY IJINGARD. 

